First published in 2005. The line between pain and pleasure is as thin as the tail of a whip, and this classic work is the definitive history of flagellation through the ages. As it shows, flagellation is much more than a punishment - it is also intimately tied to discipline and eroticism, has a romantic and even comic side, and has also been used for medical purposes. No one is above the bite of the birch or rod - convent nuns were chastised severely, queens have been flogged, and even favourites of the sultan have had to endure the whip in the great seraglios. The author deals in great detail with whipping in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, the favourite parts of the body for whipping, flagellation and discipline in monasteries and convents, whipping in prisons, the rod in Russia, flagellation in America, whipping in Europe and the Far East, the flogging of slaves, military flogging, school punishments and the birch in the boudoir, all enlivened with colourful anecdotes. There is a chapter on the instruments of whipping, a selection of ribald and erotic poems on whipping, a section on eccentric forms of whipping such as that practised on prostitutes, many detailed line drawings, descriptive accounts and a full index. The work shows the fundamental place whipping has always played in human history, both publicly and in private, and continues to play today.

First Published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

William J. Webb defuses misguided readings of biblical passages that call for the corporal punishment of children, slaves and wrongdoers. Setting these passages in their ancient cultural context, Webb reaffirms the importance of reading Scripture with God?s redemptive movement in mind.

In its first edition, published in 1993, The Complete Book of Tackle Making became the reference of choice for builders of fine tackle and casual craftsmen alike. It saved countless anglers thousands of dollars, and now, with this new edition—revised, updated, and expanded to accommodate the many developments in tackle making methods, equipment, and materials made since then—it can continue to do so for years to come. Twenty-seven chapters and helpful appendixes include everything readers need to know about tools, spinners, bucktails, jigs, sinkers, plastic lures and plugs, wire leaders, painting and finishing methods, basic and advanced rod building, basic and decorative wraps, necessary knots and splices, tackle care and repair, suppliers and manufacturers, and much more. With more than eight hundred photographs and clear, step-by-step instruction throughout, this book is the ultimate reference for the tackle tinkerer.

This colourful, lively book is aimed at complete beginners of all ages, and those who have been out fishing a couple of times and want to take it further. It outlines what you need to know to experience the joy of getting out there, alone or with family and friends, and enjoying a day or an afternoon fishing - and catching, whether it's mackerel, pike or trout. The book is endorsed by the Angling Trust and it has everything a beginner would need to know about the basics: species, tackle, bait, tactics and watercraft.